Watchdog groups fight initiative fee hike

Unexpected bipartisan opposition has formed against a piece of legislation designed to cut down on California’s sometimes outrageous ballot initiatives. In addition to the left-leaning Consumer Watchdog organization, citizens’-rights groups like the California Taxpayers Association and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association have mustered their

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UCs use Brown agreement for salary boost

Its budgetary outlook finally clear, the University of California system has pivoted quickly from planning to spending. With negotiations concluded between UC president Janet Napolitano and Gov. Jerry Brown, the board of regents has ushered in a substantial salary hike for

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Dueling road plans propose higher taxes, seek to reduce driving

Drivers are likely scratching their heads over conflicting approaches to transportation goals in the state and cities. A coalition of business and labor organizations supported a plan to raise funds for road repair to the tune of $6 billion a year

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Official San Diego stadium plan tougher than task force’s

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and San Diego County Supervisor Ron Roberts on Monday unveiled architectural renderings, a financing scheme and a 6,000-page draft environmental impact report for a $1.1 billion, 68,000-seat NFL stadium to keep the Chargers from going to

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CA regulators plot end to gas-fueled cars

California officials have begun a massive effort to eventually eliminate gas-fueled cars from state roads, led by a powerful regulator with Gov. Jerry Brown’s unwavering support. Legislating the future Mary Nichols, head of the state’s Air Resources Board for the past eight years, “is pushing regulations

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Developer fees targeted by legislation as cities battle housing costs

Rent control is on the march in California, addressing years of leases that have increased to as much as 43 percent over the national average for a one-bedroom apartment. In the last year, rent has increased 6.5 percent in the

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Chargers’ saga at a crucial juncture

San Diego officials meet with an NFL team owners committee Monday in Chicago in what could be the decisive meeting of the summer related to whether the Chargers will move to Los Angeles. The Spanos family, owner of the team, says

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Santa Cruz County targets felonious Wall Street banks

Millions of Americans — mostly but not entirely on the political left — remain furious that Wall Street giants were protected by the political class from catastrophe during the Great Recession even though their dangerous credit and lending practices were

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CA Congressmen want federal pot probe

The federal government’s understanding of its own marijuana regulations are willfully “tortuous” and “an obvious stretch,” warned a bipartisan duo of California Congressmen in a sternly-worded letter to the Department of Justice. An abuse of power In the letter, obtained by the Huffington Post, Reps. Sam

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